The 20 students have split into five teams, each one designing and producing their own interpretation of my art.
The process of defining their works began with the students, their lead instructor, Jay Hawkins Sr., and me, brainstorming their ideas and writing the results on large sheets of yellow paper taped to the walls. We then worked on clarifying and defining their works of art.
Once the teams were satisfied with their projects on paper, it was time to purchase the needed materials, move into the art studio, and begin creating.
Re-taping their yellow project papers to the walls of their workspaces and getting started, the students quickly experienced a reality that artists often face---design ideas don’t always work when it comes to execution.
This part of the process surprised the students. It also taught them that when something doesn’t seem like it’s going to work, you don't give up. You figure out other options.
And they did, with admirable diligence and impressively creative minds.
I’ve included an example of their brainstorming ideas, as well as a sneak peek of one of the team’s early stages of translating their paper ideal into a work of art.
The rest of this week is dedicated to priming and completing the structural elements of their artwork, and then bringing them all to life with paint.
Stay tuned….
LEROI: Living in Color Exhibition includes the work of students from Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT,) Buffalo Public Schools (BPS,) Just Buffalo Literary Center (JBLC,) and Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center. The exhibition will be on view at the Burchfield Penney Art Center through March 26, 2023, presented by M&T Bank, with additional support from organizations and individuals throughout the Western New York community.
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